Latest news with #TennesseeGeneralAssembly
Axios
03-06-2025
- General
- Axios
New ruling revives effort to cut Nashville's Metro Council in half
A Tennessee appeals court has revived state Republicans' effort to cut the size of Nashville's 40-member Metro Council in half. Why it matters: The 2-1 decision released Tuesday reverses a lower court ruling and hands the state a significant victory in its ongoing legal battle with Metro. If the appeals ruling stands, the council would be reduced to 20 members following an upcoming election. The big picture: Republican lawmakers approved a law to shrink the council in 2023 amid a pitched battle between state and local leaders. The law would have shrunk the size of the council after the August 2023 election. Courts initially delayed the law and then ruled that it violated the Tennessee Constitution because it was an attempt to single out Nashville. The latest: The divided appeals court disagreed, saying the law was constitutionally sound because it could apply in Nashville and to future metropolitan councils. "There is simply 'nothing in the language of the constitution to prevent' the Tennessee General Assembly from imposing its own limit on the voting membership of a metropolitan council," the ruling states. What's next: The city could seek a review from the Tennessee Supreme Court. What they're saying:"We are understandably disappointed and concerned about this ruling's implications for local sovereignty," Metro associate law director Allison L. Bussell said in a statement.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$3.2M from state to be released after July 1 for Scarboro 85 Monument in Oak Ridge
The Tennessee General Assembly voted in April to approve $3.2 million primarily for funding the construction of the Scarboro 85 Monument in A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. The funds will be released after July 1 when the state's new fiscal year starts. According to a news release, $2.7 million will be spent to update the completed initial design of the monument and to cover the cost of the construction. The remaining state funding of about a half of a million dollars will finance a program of national public education, tourism development and Black heritage preservation related to the historic Scarboro 85 desegregation of the first two public schools in Oak Ridge and in the Southeast, starting on Sept. 6, 1955. The two schools the 85 Scarboro students attended were Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High School. Both the city of Oak Ridge and Anderson County have donated $125,000 each to the project, and another $200,000 has been raised through private donations. Additional donations to this effort can be made through the website. 'We thank the Tennessee State Legislature for approving the recommendation of Gov. Bill Lee to fund our monument that will honor the people in Oak Ridge who helped open the modern civil rights era,' said John Spratling, an award-winning educator and chairman of the Scarboro 85 Monument Celebration Committee. 'The new monument will honor 85 brave young Black Tennessee students from Scarboro in Oak Ridge who became the very first to desegregate two all-white public schools in the Southeastern United States. This year is the 70th anniversary of that game-changing civil rights event.' Spratling said the next step will be 'to confirm our estimate for construction costs with a local construction contractor who knows the local costs of construction materials and labor in our area. To do this, we must first receive the state funds needed to hire a construction contractor. We understand that the Tennessee State Historical Commission will be responsible for disbursing the state funds.' He said it has not been determined whether the city of Oak Ridge or another entity 'will procure a construction company. We are actively working on this issue. We estimate that about a year and a half will be required to complete the project, once we have received the state money and obtained a construction contractor.' Spratling emphasized that the committee hopes to expedite the process for completing the project. 'It's obviously urgent to complete the monument as soon as possible so that the surviving Scarboro 85 students can be honored in person,' he said. 'Tragically, there are only about a dozen of the 85 students left.' The monument has been designed by a nationally known architecture firm called demian\wilbur\architects. It will feature 85 'Pillars of Courage' surrounding a central plaza of 'Healing and Hope.' The monument will also include lighted footsteps approaching it from both sides, symbolizing the Black and white communities that came together to make possible the historic desegregation. Spratling said, "The monument architects have gone to great lengths to ensure the monument's design and content reflect the views of the 85 students, Scarboro residents, the Oak Ridge public and local community leaders.' The monument design, which was officially unveiled in 2023, has been featured in a variety of local newspaper stories and highlighted at numerous public events. On March 28, at the 'Lunch with Legislators' event hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally of Oak Ridge responded positively to the public request for state funds for the monument project by Rose Weaver, long-time Scarboro historian and co-chair of the Scarboro 85 Monument Celebration Committee. 'This monument will be a shining tribute to these true pioneers of the civil rights movement,' McNally said. 'I am hopeful this honor will serve to further secure the rightful place of the Scarboro 85 as one of the most critical and pivotal groups in the historical struggle for civil rights.' 'We really appreciate the support from Gov. Lee, Lt. Gov. McNally, the Tennessee State Legislature and the people of Tennessee in recognizing these wonderful pioneers,' Weaver said. Spratling added that the committee is 'still fundraising because our original goal is $4.2 million.' He noted that the completion of the monument will include contributions made by students in teacher Mark Buckner's Wildcat Manufacturing program at Oak Ridge High School. Spratling said efforts will be made to spread the Scarboro 85 story nationwide through professional marketing and promotion in the hope of attracting tens of thousands of visitors a year to the monument, providing an additional economic boost to the Oak Ridge area. For more information, contact Spratling, a teacher and coach at Robertsville Middle School, at jspratling@ or Weaver, currently the poet laureate of Oak Ridge, at rs_wvr@ This article originally appeared on Oakridger: $3.2M from state to be released after July 1 for Scarboro 85 Monument
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Felony DUI draws 3-year sentence
A Crossville area man with a dozen drunk-driving convictions on his record was sentenced to three years in prison with a parole eligibility date after 150 days of the sentence is served. Christopher Dean Thomas has been in custody since his March jury conviction of felony DUI in connection with his Dec, 4, 2019, arrest by Crossville Police. The jury — who took only about 20 minutes to convict Thomas — also fined him $2,500. Thomas appeared for a sentencing hearing Monday afternoon and was facing two to six years in prison. State prosecutors were seeking four years in jail while defense attorney Randal Boston asked the court to consider two years. Following the jury conviction, Judge Gary McKenzie found there was enough evidence to raise the DUI conviction to a Class D felony of fifth-offense driving under the influence. This was based on four convictions within the 20-year period set by the Tennessee General Assembly to be considered as enhancement. Other convictions were older than the 20-year period. Thomas' record, enhancement and mitigating factors were considered as McKenzie set the sentence Thomas will serve. Thomas should be eligible for his first parole hearing in late spring or early summer. Crossville Police Sgt. Keith Sadula testified during the trial he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Thomas on Dec. 4, 2019, leading him to being arrested on several charges. Most of those charges were later dismissed or pled guilty to in Municipal Court.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ETSU approved for $59 million in state funds
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — East Tennessee State University (ETSU) announced Monday it will receive $59 million in state funds for various projects. The funds were included by the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee for the 2025-26 budget. $25 million approved for Hurricane Helene relief in Northeast Tennessee The allocations include the following, according to a news release from ETSU. Brown Hall Renovation Phase II – $53.4 million Scientific equipment for ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine – $3 million Improvements at the ETSU/Eastman Valleybrook campus – $5 million Repairs and maintenance across campus – $3.5 million 'We are incredibly grateful to Gov. Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for their continued investment in our students, our research, our employees and our mission,' ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland said in the release. 'This funding is not only a commitment to higher education but a powerful affirmation of ETSU's role as the flagship institution of Appalachia – a university driving progress in science, health care and economic development across our region.' The Brown Hall renovation is modernizing labs and classrooms to support ETSU's enrollment and research needs, the release states. Phase II will transform the facility into a hub for the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy departments. 'These are not just budget line items – they are investments in our students' futures and the well-being of our communities,' Noland said. 'Every dollar helps ensure that ETSU continues to be a driver of progress and opportunity in East Tennessee and beyond.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee lawmakers had a real shot to repeal the grocery tax, but they blew it
After an election supposedly about grocery prices, Gov. Bill Lee and Republican lawmakers are laughing at Tennessee families struggling with among the highest grocery taxes in the country. In 2025, like they did in 2024, Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, and Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, proposed ending the grocery tax without sacrificing state and local services; they would have achieved this by closing corporate tax loopholes. But the measure did not get a vote prior to the end of the Tennessee General Assembly session on April 22. In 2024, instead of cutting grocery taxes, Republicans passed an unprecedented corporate giveaway, refunding up to three years of franchise taxes already paid by corporations, in addition to a $400 million recurring tax break. So far, more than $1.2 billion has been refunded to over 47,000 businesses. Much was made of Republicans introducing their own grocery tax repeal this year, but despite that bill, Governor Lee's budget again did not include any relief for families. Perhaps that is because unlike Representative Behn and Senator Oliver's bill (House Bill 2/Senate Bill 2), the Republican proposal (House Bill 21/Senate Bill 1367) was, in fact, a joke. In the Senate, committee Chairman Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, even referred to Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson,'s proposal to end grocery taxes as a "pipe dream," and everyone had a good chuckle. It's hard to see the humor in a population that cannot afford to eat properly. Then they introduced a bill they have no intention of passing just to get some positive headlines and make Tennesseans think they cared. And then they laughed about it, on camera, because they think you aren't paying attention. They are laughing at Tennessee families struggling while they give away billions to their corporate donors. We are told Tennessee is a low tax state, but in reality it is only a low tax state for big corporations. The Economic Policy Institute reports that more than 60% of companies filing in Tennessee pay zero in the state corporate income tax. That includes 24% of companies that report over $1 billion in revenue to the federal government, according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue as reported by Tennessee Senate Democrats. One reason could be that Tennessee is one of only 17 states that doesn't require "combined reporting" for corporations, allowing them to exploit onshore and offshore loopholes. While corporations get a free ride, Tennessee families are punished by being one of only 10 states that tax groceries. Mom was a Special Education teacher certified in five areas. Throughout her career, she taught children of all ages and in various schools. Like many of her fellow educators, she was deeply concerned about students who came to school hungry, knowing that proper nutrition is essential for learning. Many teachers, including Mom, often used their own money to stock snacks in the classroom to help meet their students' basic needs. According to the MIT Living Wage calculator, the wage needed for basic necessities like food, housing, transportation, etc., for an adult with no children in Tennessee is $45,735, but according to the Census the per capita income for that person in Tennessee is $37,866. For a family with two children where both parents work, the income needed for necessities increases to $84,229, but the Census median household income is $67,097 −a more than $17,000 deficit. That means that more than half of the people in our state − or more than 3.5 million people − are struggling, including many two-income households. None of the numerous corporate tax breaks over the past decade at the state and federal level have helped Tennessee families, nor did the $500 million in state money spent on a new Titans stadium. What have Tennessee families gotten? Retaliation against cities and towns who try to be responsive to the needs of their residents, an all-out assault on our public schools, and relentless bullying of vulnerable communities. We deserve better. We must join together across our differences, and demand better. Diane Moore is a retired Chattanooga city worker and TN4All volunteer. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grocery tax repeal should have been a priority for Tennessee | Opinion
